September 19, 1988
New sheriff to receive slight pay increase
By Mike Wheeler
Staff Reporter
Orange County Commissioners today increased Orange County Sheriff Newton Johnson Jr.'s salary.
Johnson's increase comes after the former chief deputy's appointment last week to the sheriff's position when a district judge suspended Orange County Sheriff James Wade.
Wade was charged May 2 in a 10-Count federal drug indictment and has been held in the Angelina County Jail since he violated his bond conditions in late May when he allegedly sold a drug detection dog used for several years by the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Although Johnson's salary increase represents only about $25 per pay period, two commissioners today in Commissioners Court regular weekly meeting voted against giving Johnson the increase until Wade's removal goes to court on Wednesday.
According to the Orange County Personnel Department, Johnson was earning $1,121.92 per pay period as chief deputy. With the increase, Johnson will earn $1,147.12 each two-week period.
Orange County Judge James Stringer broke a tie vote of the court when Precinct 2 Commissioner Marcelle Adams and Precinct 4 Commissioner Archie Smith voted "no" to the increase until Wade's removal case comes to trial this week.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Forrest Hudson made the Motion to increase Johnson's salary and Hudson's motion was seconded by Precinct 3 Commissioner Don Cole.
Johnson, though, will not be drawing a $950 per month car allowance, which had been included in Wade's salary prior to the suspended sheriff taking a leave of absence in response to his prior jail release conditions, since Johnson drives a county vehicle in his hob as sheriff.
Frank Miller, a Wade supporter and family associate, asked the court today to delay making a decision on increasing Johnson's salary until "the democratic process has a chance" and wade goes to court Wednesday to answer the removal petition.
Miller contended that only a part of the state law concerning the removal of an elected official from office had been used by Orange County Attorney Steve Howard in his petition filed on June 13 asking for Wade's removal and the appointment of a temporary sheriff.
District Judge Thomas A. Thomas signed the order removing Wade from office and the order for Johnson's appointment as sheriff just prior t Wade's filing a withdrawal of his leave of absence with the county on June 13.
"Part of the law was circumvented by County Attorney Howard in his removal petition," Miller said.
The hearing on Wade's removal will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the 128th district Court.
Stringer said he believed the court .........
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